20 WAYS TO MAKE RACING LESS PAINFUL

Racing a triathlon pain-free is a pipe dream, surely? Well, yes and no. While we can't make it 'easy', we can certainly help you reach the finish line with a smile. Here's how...

- CHARLIE ALLENBY

Triathlon is a painful pastime. Training and racing across three different disciplines can push your body to its limits, while the longest, Ironman-distance events require three back-to-back Herculean efforts to simply make it to the end.

There is an element of embracing the discomfort and remembering that pain is temporary. But a triathlon doesn’t have to be a sufferfest for the sake of it. Recording a respectable age-group time or new personal best can be achieved without entering the pain locker, and if you’re looking to simply complete rather than compete, there are numerous ways to modify your training, nutrition, mindset and more to reach the finish line with a smile on your face (rather than a grimace).

From simple kit bag additions to drills you can include in your regular training schedule, here coaches, nutritionists and pro triathletes reveal their tips for making racing less painful…

Racing a triathlon pain-free is a pipe dream, surely? Well, yes and no. While we can't make it 'easy', we can certainly help you reach the finish line with a smile. Here's how...

1. TRAIN YOUR GUT

Feeling sick, vomiting or, in a worst-case scenario, diarrhea, can bring an end to any event, but advanced sports dietician Dr Gemma Sampson says it’s possible to avoid all of these issues by practising your nutrition (and trying out the race-day products) during training in the weeks and months leading into it.

“You wouldn’t try a new bike, shoes or saddle on a race day and nutrition is the same – you want to make all the mistakes figuring out what is or isn’t working when training,” says Sampson.

2. DON’T SKIP THE S&C

When the training hours ramp up, strength and conditioning is often the first thing to be cut, but Tri For Fitness’ Terence Watson believes “if you can’t do anything else, do your strength and conditioning session”.